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Krups Coffee Grinder GVX2

“
Burr milling system avoids overheating, preserves aroma and has a grind fineness selector. Fineness selector has 17 positions from fine to coarse (adapted to each brewing method from espresso to drip coffee, to French press). Cup selector from 2 to 12 cups. „

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A cut above the rest of coffee grinders without paying through the nose for.

Six years ago when working as a barista in a local coffee shop I was given a Christmas present in the form of coffee grinder so that I could prepare filter coffee at home. It was like a leaving present of sorts, knowing my love for espresso coffee above all else and from the person concerned was one of my dearest friends who knew that I was leaving the job. Of course I had been an avid coffee drinker for many years too using the more traditional cafetiere jug or an electric coffee maker from brands like Morphy Richards, Breville and even at one point a few Proline machines, all of which have been reviewed online. However, I wasn't that sure about the Krups because I never felt the need to buy actual coffee filter beans as opposed to the powder and reckoned that the Krups could sit in a cupboard until such times that I would find a reason to using it. My late father and his knack of spice making culminated in the usage of a grinder that my late mum bought for her Kenwood Chef - which could also helpfully turn castor sugar into silky smooth icing sugar. When I realised that the Kenwood Chef grinder could also grind coffee, I wasn't that taken with the standard grind that it gave and continued to buy filter coffee powder, already ground at my local supermarket. Fast forward six years later and the prices for such an extravagance sets me back £5 each time for a bag of ready-ground filter coffee powder - compared to £3 for the same flavour of beans in the same quantity pack - thus necessitating the use of a proper coffee grinder at last!

Out of the product box, my Krups GVX2 came with a coffee measuring spoon, hopper lid and the machine itself, which measures approximately 45cm by 45cm by 23cm. It has quite a stylish look about itself, no bigger than Kenwood's Go-Mini Smoothie maker blender and has a predominate PVC black body with brushed metal accents on the control panel, main centre of the machine and controls. Even my hand held Hoover Jovis dust buster is bigger than the Krups GVX2 and this grinder hardly takes up any space at all! The stylish combination of silver and black seems to work well in my kitchen when my parents had a love of coordinating all manner of small home appliances in black, though this colour coordination would work well in many kitchens that have some shiny silver metal on show elsewhere.

More importantly, the Krups GVX2 feels and looks like a premium product from the way that the top of the machine where the main thick PVC hopper fill lid has been tinted with a dark grey colouring to the acrylic and white gradient "max fill" markings on both the removable powder tank at the bottom of the machine and at the top. For the cost price now in 2013 from Amazon, £37 or more doesn't seem a lot compared to the £56 asking price that my gift initially cost the purchaser so many years ago.

The design of the Krups however leads to a lot of other appliances that this German brand produces offering a very simple design that is additionally well marked and easy to see without much look to the user manual. The user manual itself is pretty poor using only diagrams and no wording to provide user assistance though the machine is fairly easy to use and control initially without much looking - or so I found anyway!

Performance & Downsides

When it comes to use, the Krups GVX2 is child's play - and you don't need much reference to the user manual. You can either use the hopper lid to measure coffee beans to pour into the machine's main grind opening or simply pour loose beans in slowly from a loose bag as much as it will fill to the top below the "max" line located on the permanently fitted collar at the top of the machine. Generally I find that a small quarter of 250g of vacuum packed coffee beans will fill to the top of the Krups before the machine can be started, even if the top tank can take 225g total of beans. As a safety precaution though, the Krups is well thought out, so although it looks like child's play, there are a few aspects that have been designed to catch inquisitive fingers out! There are two safety mechanisms that will not allow the machine to work - firstly if the hopper lid isn't pushed down properly and secondly if the tank at the bottom has been removed by accident and doesn't slide in to lock. There is only one control button for activation and that is set in the middle just above the cup selector dial. It has a pleasing purple LED light and the soft push button works with precision in an instant - without feeling or looking cheap in the process.

Being a burr mill type grinder means there are no blades that any tiny little fingers will get caught in at the top or the bottom of the machine, either. The grinding wheels have all been covered up. A burr mill type grinder is like two stones that crush and grind the coffee bean as well as being emulsified by the oils that coffee beans produce - so in theory the Krups doesn't actually need to be oiled throughout its life.

To aid the process of freshly ground beans, Krups have wisely thought about this machine with great detail as there is a metal brushed chrome dial at the left hand side of the grinder that allows the owner to choose up to 17 different coarse grinds of coffee powder, from super silky smooth powder or slightly granulated dependent on the taste at the time of process and production of the coffee. The ingenious aspect of this machine isn't just the coarse grind dial but also for the fact that at the front there is also a cup selector dial that gives you the amount required for 10 cups of coffee. This is a great idea that eliminates waste of powder, particularly if you are never sure of just how much coffee to add.

Compared to my Panasonic coffee machine, which suggests using 4 spoonfuls of the coffee spoon of powder, the Krups GVX2 always gives me an exact measurement of just exactly what I need and usually left at 3, the machine can give me half of a tank full of coffee that can be transferred straight over to my electric coffee machine without having to go through measurement with the spoon each time. The Krups doesn't take an age to grind either, able to deposit ground coffee quickly in less than a minute and able to show its amount by the light grey acrylic bottom release tank.

The coarse grind dial is of course the most important aspect of this machine because coffee beans when ground, produce very different flavours dependent on the grind, not as buyers are made to believe, the different flavours of coffee ground powder. This is because when coffee beans are ground up with a coarser grind, the coffee taste can be a bit deeper than slow to emerge compared to the stronger aspect of filter coffee in general. If you have ever made filter coffee using just ground powder and ever wondered why it is strong - there's your reason!

The main downside to the Krups is the motor noise and at times can stop working because of the way the beans are moving about, or rather get stuck. A quick shake to the machine gently will get things starting again rather than pushing the electronic button if you get frustrated. Over use of the button can break as it is a soft and fragile button that only needs to be activated a couple of times. Overall the Krups has a low energy, eco friendly 70-watt motor that isn't afraid to scream once the beans have been ground down. But the general design has a few tricks up its sleeve where you don't have to put up with the noise as much! Twinned with the fact that it is so quick at grinding beans into powder anyway, the Krups GVX2 will shut off automatically when no more beans are left to grind, thus saving power and wastage. In general use, it does produce quite a high grinding noise and if you hover over the machine you can see loads of beans jumping about as they get ground down, dependent on how much you fill.

Throughout use my kitchen smells of deeply ground coffee, an aroma that I could have in my home all day long!

Generally when it comes to ground coffee and the storage of it, I'll let you into a few secrets I learnt from the trade and why the Krups can be used in such a manner for storage. I only grind just enough coffee beans for my coffee machine as opposed to doing a large amount to keep for use later in the week. The reason for this is that although ground coffee is the freshest the moment it comes out of a coffee grind machine, adding it into a Tupperware box or a box with an airtight seal and leaving it outside on the worktop won't actually keep it fresh. It has to be stored in a dark area, which is why the Krups grinder is predominately black and to why the tank is dark grey - it keeps coffee fresh enough for the next couple of days without having to be poured into an airtight box.

Long term, the best way of keeping ground coffee fresh is a maximum of 2 weeks. Putting it in an airtight box and then putting it into the fridge is the absolute worst process to do! The fridge and freezer is not the best solution to keeping coffee fresh as it loses its flavour under extreme cold. The best way of keeping coffee fresh is to pour it into an airtight box before storing it in a dark place - or as I do, turning my Krups sideways so that the kitchen light doesn't shine on the powder. The removable lid isn't airtight unless it is locked out of the Krups, making it ideal to use as a temporary storer in between days when not relying on so much coffee! When I was a barista I was taught by an Italian guy who gave me the best kept secrets of keeping coffee fresh - particularly if it is ground or of the espresso type, in which this coffee grinder can also produce by leaving it into the highest grind setting for silky smooth coffee powder.

Hence the reason for the coarse grinder dial - not just fit for filter coffee, but also ideal for espresso coffee, of which you would need an espresso machine to apply steam pressure through for the perfect thicker strength coffee compared to filter.

When it comes to cleaning, only the removable tank at the bottom and the hopper lid can be washed in soapy warm water and those parts are not dishwasher safe because of their thin plastics. However, in general use though the Krups is safe, quick and large efficient at what it does, it only becomes messy when the lid of the tank is removed to gain access to the powder, dusting worktops with just a little coffee powder - and one reason alone to why people don't like these types of grinder. However I don't mind a little mess on my worktop to get the perfect cup of coffee any time of the day.

If the top requires cleaning, either best to unplug the unit and shake gently over an open bin or vacuum out the top using just the hose and handle from your vacuum cleaner. You can bet what solution I use!

Other Sorts & Final Thoughts

Krups sell quite a few coffee grinders on the market but it very much comes down to preference and for what kind of food prep need in general. They sell a basic grinder with a metal blade that will give you coffee bean powder but there is no coarse setting and that grinder would also be able to be used with spices and general food prep in general such as castor sugar to icing sugar.

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The best of the cheaper grinders available

It was through reading reviews that I myself eventually chose this coffee grinder, after months of agonising over the best option. I have to say that my expectations have been fulfilled, and this grinder really is by far the best available of the low-cost (under 80 pounds) options.

As well as looking very stylish and modern on your worktop, this Krups grinder is very easy to set up and use. There is a wide range of fineness options, so you can grind your beans to everything from the dust-like coffee used for Greek coffee and the finest espresso, right up to the sort of large chunks which must be used for Starbucks 'coffee' (!). I have been experimenting with different grinds, and certainly become much more aware of how the fineness affects the taste.

Although the grinding process is of course fairly noisy, it is not nearly as alarming as with cheaper models (which sometimes sound and look as though they are about to take off). Once or twice the beans seemed to get stuck and the grinder turned itself off, but a quick shake rectified the problem. Being able to set the amount of cups of coffee you actually want to produce each time is invaluable, as if you're anything like me you tend to always over or under estimate the amount of coffee required.

Highly recommended.

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Good value for money

Ever since living in Spain, I've developed a taste for freshly ground coffee, as it just tastes so much better than the instant stuff. With this in mind, I put the Krups coffee grinder on my Christmas list, and was very pleased when I actually received it.

The first big plus point about any coffee grinder over a coffee maker is that you can choose any brand and any flavour of coffee you choose, whereas if you buy a coffee maker you're stuck with only one brand of the little tablets the coffee is contained in.

Since this is my first grinder, I won't necessarily be able to compare it to others, but I can tell you what I like about it. The first thing is that you can set how fine you want the coffee ground beforehand- there are 17 positions. The manual gives you some suggestions for this, and you can very the grind depending on what type of coffee you're making- the finer the grind, the stronger the coffee, so the finest setting is ideal for making an espresso. Over time you gradually get to know which grind you like the best, and I find that somewhere around the mid-way mark is ideal for me.

Secondly, you can set the machine to grind enough beans for a certain number of cups, from 1 to 12, so you don't end up throwing lots of expensive coffee away. The only problem with this is that it can be quite awkward to tip unground beans out of the top of the machine and back into the bag once the grinding's finished.

While the grinding is actually taking place (which happens automatically, with the press of a button) the noise from the machine isn't too excessive, and it's very quick. I estimate that it takes between 30 and 45 seconds for it to grind enough for 4 cups. Once it's finished, I usually pour the ground beans into a cafetiere and make the coffee using that. The manual advises that you use the ground beans as soon as possible after grinding, in order to retain maximum flavour.

I've used 2 different types of coffee in my grinder so far, and it's fair to say that the taste has been lovely with both types- not too bitter, and with a nice, fresh flavour that you wouldn't get from instant granules.

The machine also seems easy to maintain. The coffee, once ground, is dispensed into a plastic container with a flip-up lid, both of which are dishwasher safe, as is the plastic lid which covers the top of the machine, where the unground beans are placed. The machine itself should only be cleaned with a damp cloth, and the only bit that's a bit awkward is the pit where the beans are put. Inside is a big plastic screw which comes out to allow you to wipe underneath, and the underneath usually contains squashed bits of coffee bean which are a bit hard to remove, although this is just a bit awkward rather than impossible. Plus, the machine comes with a small brush, like a pastry brush, for cleaning inside the machine, which helps.

It's also quite a nice, compact size- about the same size as a kettle, so it won't take up too much precious kitchen space!

Obviously I haven't had it for long enough yet to have experienced any problems, but it does come with a one year guarantee valid in the country of purchase, and provided you keep the receipt.

For the price you pay (and this is currently available on amazon for £30.99) I think this is a very decent quality coffee grinder.

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A must have for any coffee lover

I do like fresh coffee! I have a Krups machine and I used to buy ready ground coffee. However I mistakingly bought coffe beans one day and whilst annoyed, i thought it would be good to grind my own. Afterall the coffee stays fresher in bean form.

I decided on this model as it is relitively feature packed.

firstly it has a graded grinder. This means that you can chooes the level of grind depending on whether you are planning to make espresso, filter etc. The finer the grind the stronger the taste. This setting is adjusted using a stailess steel knob on the left hand side of the machine.

The second setting button is for quantity. This determines how many beand are ground. This ranges from one to ten cups. This is particulary useful in ensuring that you do not waste coffee.

The final button os a blue LED lit button. This is the on off button. The machine can be left grinding or can be set to grind in pulse motion. the pulse motion ensures that the beans do not get stuck during the grind.

The 'hopper' that collects the gorund coffee is not massive but is plentu big enough for a personal grinding machine like this one. It has a lid that ensures that there is no spillage when being romoved from the machine. It is wide enough to insert a coffee spoon and narrow enough to make it easy and clean enough to empty the contents into a caddy.

The machine plug into the mains which ensures a powerfull grind, if not a little noisy. That said the aroam that is produced and the flavour that ensues is outstanding and for the little time it takes (about 2 mins for a full bag of coffee beans) i would recomend this to any coffee lover.

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Good functionality and performance suitable for all coffee machines

Krups Expert Coffee Grinder, GVX2

Having recently bought a Gaggia Espresso machine I needed to get a grinder to prepare the beans to make the perfect coffee. I'd bought the espresso machine at Bluewater shopping centre and I knew that I'd want to get cracking as soon as I got home so there was no time to look around online to get the best deal. After realising that the only suitable Gaggia model would cost £150 I thought I'd nip into John Lewis to see what they had on offer.The choice there was pretty good with models starting at about £20 running up to the Gaggia model. After being given a crash course in the matter of grinding beans by the very helpful assistant I plumped for the Krups model, GVX2, at £39.95.

Before I talk about the Krups model, let me try and pass on that crash course and explain the finer points of grinding beans.There are two key points to understand about coffee grinders, firstly is the coarseness of the coffee after grinding and secondly is the mechanism of grinding the beans. Different coffee machines need different grades of coarseness to achieve best results. Filter machines allow water to drip slowly through the coffee and need a coarse grind. Espresso machines work by pumping hot water forcibly through the coffee in the filter head. The coffee therefore needs to be very finely ground. Cafetiere's require something in-between.The next question is how the machine grinds the coffee. The choice here is between a blade (for chopping) or a burr (for grinding). A blade will repeatedly chop the coffee beans to produce thousands of unevenly sized grinds, the longer you chop the finer the blend becomes but it will never be uniform and this makes it unsuitable for espresso machines. A burr machine works like mill stones to grind the coffee to a preset size, this ensures that none of the bean quality is lost. This will produce the best results for espresso machines.

In the box~In the box is the machine itself, cleaning brush and instructions. The burr is packed loose and should be washed before inserting. The instructions, printed in several languages, are clear and easy to follow. After the first reading I haven't needed to refer to them again.

Look and feel~The unit is medium sized as coffee grinders go and has an attractive, contemporary look with a brushed steel facia and solid black plastic body. The bean hopper sits inside the machine while the clear plastic lid sits on top, adding an extra inch or two in height. On the front is the power button which includes a blue light to show when the unit is operating (although bearing in mind how noisy it is, this is a bit redundant) and the cup selector dial. On the left hand side is the grind selector dial. The ground coffee holder slides out to the front and is big enough (200g capacity) to hold over a dozen servings.The machine has a good, solid feel to it that inspires confidence in its quality and durability.

In use~The machine is very easy to use. The cup selector dial allows you to choose the number of servings you want to grind from 2 - 12 cups. This is useful as ground coffee will go stale quite quickly so you don't want to make more than you need. The fineness selector allows you to preset the coarseness of the grind from very fine (for espresso machines) through medium (for drip coffee) to coarse (for French press). In total there are 17 fineness settings so plenty of room for experimentation.When grinding, the machine is quite noisy, but this is to be expected. It is fairly quick; taking about 15 seconds to grind 6 espresso settings. The coffee holder can be completely removed from the unit and has a removable lid making access to the coffee easy.All accessible parts of the machine are easy to clean. The hopper lid can be removed which allows the hopper to be cleaned with a damp cloth. The burr can be completely detached, again making it a simple job to keep clean. The holder, made of clear plastic is equally easy to clean.On the safety front, the machine will not run unless the hopper lid is properly in place.

Conclusion~Despite being somewhat ignorant, in the beginning, of the art of making coffee I am confident that I have bought a good machine. The unit is well designed, with no wasted functionality and performs well enough to make me feel I will be using it for some time to come.